We have an older Dyson DC14 Animal that recently had some issues when it was on the carpet setting made a LOUD ratcheting sound. Now I have been known around my house to attempt to fix anything broken and for the most part succeed. But when my wonderful wife's Dyson which she has had for 8+ years broke it was hands off pal I'm taking it to the repair shop. OK, a little blow to my self esteem, but I can understand her not wanting to drag the 16 gallon shop-vac up up from the basement and around our 3-story house. So off the Dyson went to the repair shop for its vacation and spa treatment and spent about a week away before we got it back unfixed.
The repair man had left a note on the Dyson stating the price if they repaired it would be $180+ and it was not worth fixing and would break again. The sales women, that's right not just a repair shop but they sell new vacuum cleaners and off course the brand they sell is leaps and bounds better than our old Dyson, had the perfect replacement. And their brand takes bags! My wife has had a few vacuums, her least favorite was in between her pre-Dyson one and the Dyson she used the previously mentioned 16 gallon shop-vac. Did I mention the shop-vac did not make it out of the basement during our Dyson's vacation and spa treatment? With two dogs and four cats running a muck the situation was getting a little hairy around here!
Now that the Dyson got a not worth fixing certificate from the repair man there is now harm in me taking a peak under the plastic. After a little research I find there are some Dyson models that are equipped with a clutch to switch from floor to carpet setting and also disengages the roller brush if you tip the vacuum up as a safety feature. I even found a you tube video showing how to do it.....in 10 minutes! Now to be honest it took me a half hour but in a few years when it needs to be replaced again maybe I can get my time down to 20 minutes. Yes, the vacuum cleaner repair man was correct, this part would fail again. However it would probably last as long as the previous one since my wife is diligent about cleaning the hair out of the brush and our house is about 2/3 hard wood flooring. The clutch cost me $40 and in the few days it took for shipping my wife was pleasantly surprised that she could use her Dyson wand and floor setting while we were waiting for the part. The clutch is actually what is broken and makes the noise so as long as you don't engage it the vacuum works fine.
The part that bothers me the most is the vacuum repair shops dishonesty. They are willing to throw something into a landfill because its not the brand they sell and repairing our vacuum will not help them earn the points they need to go on their yearly vacation. Why spend $500+ on a new vacuum when the one my wife is happy with only cost $40 to fix. If they had said it would be $80 to fix and the part will wear out like this one did we would have had it repaired. We would have had a functioning vacuum at a reasonable repair cost and the repair shop would have made $40 for 10 minutes worth of work.
Its really a pretty simple fix rather than throw something that does work well into a landfill, spend $$$ on something you don't have to, or help send dishonest strangers on vacation.:wave:
The repair man had left a note on the Dyson stating the price if they repaired it would be $180+ and it was not worth fixing and would break again. The sales women, that's right not just a repair shop but they sell new vacuum cleaners and off course the brand they sell is leaps and bounds better than our old Dyson, had the perfect replacement. And their brand takes bags! My wife has had a few vacuums, her least favorite was in between her pre-Dyson one and the Dyson she used the previously mentioned 16 gallon shop-vac. Did I mention the shop-vac did not make it out of the basement during our Dyson's vacation and spa treatment? With two dogs and four cats running a muck the situation was getting a little hairy around here!
Now that the Dyson got a not worth fixing certificate from the repair man there is now harm in me taking a peak under the plastic. After a little research I find there are some Dyson models that are equipped with a clutch to switch from floor to carpet setting and also disengages the roller brush if you tip the vacuum up as a safety feature. I even found a you tube video showing how to do it.....in 10 minutes! Now to be honest it took me a half hour but in a few years when it needs to be replaced again maybe I can get my time down to 20 minutes. Yes, the vacuum cleaner repair man was correct, this part would fail again. However it would probably last as long as the previous one since my wife is diligent about cleaning the hair out of the brush and our house is about 2/3 hard wood flooring. The clutch cost me $40 and in the few days it took for shipping my wife was pleasantly surprised that she could use her Dyson wand and floor setting while we were waiting for the part. The clutch is actually what is broken and makes the noise so as long as you don't engage it the vacuum works fine.
The part that bothers me the most is the vacuum repair shops dishonesty. They are willing to throw something into a landfill because its not the brand they sell and repairing our vacuum will not help them earn the points they need to go on their yearly vacation. Why spend $500+ on a new vacuum when the one my wife is happy with only cost $40 to fix. If they had said it would be $80 to fix and the part will wear out like this one did we would have had it repaired. We would have had a functioning vacuum at a reasonable repair cost and the repair shop would have made $40 for 10 minutes worth of work.
Its really a pretty simple fix rather than throw something that does work well into a landfill, spend $$$ on something you don't have to, or help send dishonest strangers on vacation.:wave:
